A stephanotis seed pod given to me by my mother became the starting point for this painting when its seeds burst open into wild, feathery tufts, catching the first light of dawn. I see plants as a metaphor for Life, and here the exuberant, sunlit seeds speak of vitality and possibility, contrasted with the broken basket and its suggestion of decay and passing time. The vintage brass scales, found at a market stall in the Middle East, add a deeply personal element, evoking the choices, journeys and consequences that shape our lives. Together, these found objects create a quiet meditation on the fleeting beauty of life – a painting to discover slowly and live with over time.